Guy rod grounding clamp



Dec. 1, 1942. c. HUBBARD 2,303,881

GUY ROD GROUNDING CLAMP Filed May 21, 1941 Patented Dec. 1, 1942 2,303,881 GUY ROD GROUNDI'NG CLAMP David C. Hubbard, Centralia, Mo., assignor to A. B. Chance Company, Centralia, Mo., a come.

ration of Missouri Application May 21, 1941, Serial No. 394,443

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to guy rod rounding clamps, and is particularly concerned with an improved guy rod clamping structure adapted to provide a dependable mechanical and electrica pressure contact between the guy strand or cable and an anchor rod, where anchor rods are used as grounding rods.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved clamping device for a guy rod, which, by virtue of its firm gripping action, tends to eliminate the abrasive action which occurs on theguy cable and anchor rod, due to causes such as vibrations and slackness in the guy cable.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved electrical connecting device for guy rods and guy cables which assists the usual guy cable clamps in securing the cable to the anchor rod and provides additional security and strength for the installation.

The present application is related to my prior application, Serial No. 328,841, on Guy rod grounding clamp, which was filed April 10. 1940, and issued June 17, 1941, as Patent No. 2,246,407.

The present application relates to a simpler type of grounding clamp which was invented prior to the subject-matter of my copending application which resulted in said patent.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved electrical connecting device for guy rodsand cables which is simple in structure, capable of economical manufacture, sturdy, and adapted to be applied with a minimum amount of labor.

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved electrical connecting devices for guy rods and guy cables which includes connecting members adapted to be wedged into engagement with the cable by means of a bolt or other threaded means so as to assure a good electrical connection.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the single sheet of drawings accompanying the specification:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view taken on a plane at right angles to the surface of the ground and parallel to a guy rod, showing a guy rod and guy cable installation, which is equipped with the present clamping device;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of a guy rod ground clamp, guy rod and cable embodying the invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 33 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the clamping members;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of one of the clamping members; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3, of a modification in which the size of the eye aperture is smaller in relation to the clamping members than that shown in Fig. 3.

The present guy rod grounding clamp is particularly adapted to be used on electrical systems employing a grounded neutral conductor that is connected electrically to the various guy wires This is done to increase the grounding efficiency, and naturally the insulators in the guy are eliminated. The clamp is adapted to afford a positive contact between the guy wire and the anchor rod, in order to assure a good electrical connection and a better ground for the various Referring to Fig. 1, It) indicates the terrain in which there is an installation comprising an anchor II and a guy rod 12. The anchor and the lower end of the guy rod may be of any of the various types, such as the expanding anchors, cone anchors, dead man anchors, etc., and the lower end of the guy rod may be provided with a point and ahead, or may be threaded and provided with a nut [3 (Fig. 3).

The guy, consisting of a steel cable It, preferably galvanized, has its lower end passed through the eye I5 of the anchor rod, andthe free end is secured above the eye i5 by means of any suitable type of cable clamp l6.

Referring to Figs. 2 to 5, these figures show the construction of the guy rod eye and the grounding clamp. The eye is preferably, but not necessarily, provided with a slightly convex impact surface I! at its upper end, for engagement with the sledge, in the event the anchor rod I2 is to be driven into the earth after it has served its purpose.

The cable 14 passes through the eye l5 and is adapted to engage in a groove I8 of substantially circular cross section, which is also a substantial fit about the periphery of the cable I l; that is, the radius of the groove I8 is substantially equal to that of the cable It.

The circular groove I8 is curved about a yoke l9, which has an inner surface 20 that may be substantially cylindrical in cross section, as shown of curvature.

groove l8 and the gradual curve 20 in the eye.

in Fig. 3, so as to provide a curve of increased perimeter. about which the cable is bent.

The gradual curve 20 about the yoke I9 prevents the cable from bending sharply and tends to prevent flattening of the cable, and it lessens the difference in strain between the inner strand of the cable and the outer strands at the point Together the substantially circular l5 are adapted to maintain the shape of the cable at the eye such that it has a greater strength and is adapted to perform its functions for a longer period of time under greater loads than any devices which are otherwise constructed.

The eye of the guy rod I2 is preferably of sufficient length longitudinally of the rod to' provide space for the cable I4, and to permit the wedging clamping members 22 and 23 to enter the eye. Thus the eye may be provided with an enlarged substantially circular portion |8a communicating with the groove l8, and adapted to receive the screw bolt 2|.

The clamping members 22 and 23 'may be identical in shape and construction, but are reversed as to location. Each of these clamping members in the simplest type of invention comprises a cast metal member having a frustoconical wedging surface 30. The clamping members have through bores 26 having a sliding fit on the bolt 2|, and the bore 26 is preferably located axially of the conically shaped clamping member. The small end 21 and the large end 28 of each clamping member may be flat, and it will be noted that the end surface 21 at the smaller end is an annulus. The width of this annulus depends upon the size of aperture in the enlarged portion |8a of the eye aperture in an installation of the type shown in Fig. 3.

The clamping member is assembled with the guy rod and cable as shown in Fig. 3, with the conical wedging members 22 and 23 engaging-the cable It at one side; and at its opposite side, and for a considerable part of the periphery of the cone 30, each clamping member engages the walls |8a of the larger part of the eye aperture IS. The bolt 2| has its head 24 engaging the large side of one of the clamping members, and a lock washer 25 is preferably interposed between the large side of the one clamping member, and the nut 29, which is threaded on the threaded end 3| of the b0lt2l.

The operation of the grounding clamp is as follows: The clamp is preferably not applied until the guy rod and cable have been completely installed as shown in Fig. l, and the installation is subjected to the strain which it is intended to take. When the nut 29 is tightened up, the conical members 22 and 23 are wedged into the eye of the guy rod, and into wedging engagement with the adjacent face of the cable with which they establish a firm mechanical and electrical contact. The sliding wedging movement which occurs as the nut 29 is tightened causes sufficient cleaning of the surface of the cable and the clamping members, and the guy rod which the clamping members engage, to insure good electrical contact.

Referring to Fig. 6, this is a modified form of installation in which the size of the eye in the guy rod is smaller in relation to the cable and clamping members. In this embodiment, the bolt 2| rests against the lower surface 32 of the eye in the guy rod.

The conical clamping members 22 and 23 do notapplied to the cable by the clamping member 22 against that of the clamping member 23 by means of the fulcrum on the bolt provided at the point 32.

It will thus be observed that I have invented a grounding clamp which provides a dependable mechanical and electrical pressure contact between the guy strand and the anchor rod for use v where guys are a part of the grounding system.

Regardless of the slack or strain on the guy. the present invention is adapted to give a positive pressure contact which is essential to good grounding.

The lock washer causes the bolt and nut to engage the clamping members with a resilient action which prevents vibration from loosening the clamp after installation. Additional security is given to the installation by the use of these grounding clamps, because they assist the guy clamp in securing the guy cable to the anchor rod.

Because of its firm grip, the grounding clamp eliminates entirely the relative motion between the engaging portions of the guy and the guy rod,

and thus eliminates entirely the abrasive wearing of the cable and the guy rod. This protects the galvanizing, and reduces the possibility-of rusting.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In an electrical connector for guy rods and cables, the combination of a guy rod having an eye with a cable located in said eye, a bolt passing through said eye, said bolt having a pair of clamping members arranged on said bolt on the opposite sides of said guy rod, said clamping members having frusto-conical wedging surfaces engaging said cable, and threaded means on said bolt whereby said clamping members may be drawn into wedging engagement with said cable.

2. In an electrical connector for guy rods and cables, the combination of a guy rod having an eye with a cable located in said eye, a bolt passing through said eye, said bolt having a pair of clamping members arranged on said bolt on the opposite sides of said guy rod, said clamping members having frusto-conical wedging surfaces engaging said cable, and threaded meanson said bolt whereby said clamping members may be drawn into wedging engagement with said cable, each clamping member being circular in shape, whereby any of its side portions may serve as wedging surfaces.

3. In an electrical connector for guy rods and cables, the combination of a guy rod having an eye with a cable located in said eye, a bolt passing through said eye, said bolt having a pair of clamping members arranged on said bolt on the opposite sides of said guy rod, said clamping members having frusto-conical wedging surfaces engaging said cable, and threaded means on said bolt whereby said clamping members may be drawn into wedging engagement with said cable,

said clamping members having surfaces opposite bolt whereby said clamping members may bev drawn into wedging engagement with said cable, said wedging surfaces engaging said cable reacting against the bolt, which has its opposite side engaging the wall of the eye in said guyrod.

5. A guy clamp, comprising a bolt of suflicient length to pass through the eye of a guy rod and support a clamping member on each end of said bolt, said bolt having threaded means for forcing the clamping members into engagement with a cable, and a pair or clamping members carried by said bolt, each of said clamping members comprising a frusto-conical member having an axially extending bore for receiving said bolt.

6. A guy clamp, comprising a bolt of sufficient length to pass through the eye of a guy rod and support a clamping member on each end of said bolt, said bolt having threaded means for forcing the clamping members into engagement with a cable, and a pair of clamping members carried by said bolt, each of said clamping members comprising a frusto-conical member having an axially extending bore for receiving said bolt, said frustoconical members having their smaller ends of a size adapted to be received in the eye of a guy rod with a cable in the eye.

DAVID C. HUBBARD. 

